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Kapowsin Elementary

Q: Is Kapowsin Elementary a good school?

Kapowsin Elementary ranks 632 nd of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades K-5

632^nd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,160 Washington Elementary Schools

Better than 46% of Washington elementary schools

Summary

Kapowsin Elementary is a public K-5 school serving 321 students in Graham, Washington, as part of the Bethel School District, and it currently ranks in the middle range of elementary schools statewide with a 2-star rating.

The school shows a notable strength in math, where student proficiency exceeds both the district and state averages, but it faces a significant challenge with a steep drop in scores by 5th grade, which is more pronounced than at many nearby schools like Nelson Elementary. Performance can vary considerably from year to year, particularly in science, and the school's historical success in supporting some student groups has recently declined. Interestingly, Kapowsin spends more per student than all comparison schools, including higher-performing neighbors such as Nelson Elementary and Pioneer Valley Elementary, yet achieves more modest academic results.

For parents, Kapowsin offers smaller class sizes than several area schools and demonstrates effective support for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. However, it is surrounded by several higher-performing options within a few miles, such as Nelson Elementary and Graham Elementary. The key areas for the school to address appear to be aligning its curriculum for the upper grades to prevent the 5th-grade proficiency drop and examining how its substantial resources are allocated to improve overall student outcomes.

321

Students ?

15.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$20,103

Per pupil spending ?

47.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

10412 264th Street East
Graham, WA 98338-8795

(253) 800-8600

District: Bethel School District

Students who attend Kapowsin Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Frontier Middle School
High:	Graham Kapowsin High School

Racial breakdown:

White:

63.6%

Hispanic:

18.7%

Two or more races:

12.8%

See top rated Washington elementary schools

Compare Kapowsin Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 42nd percentile in 2015 → 46th in 2025

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school45%

District avg43%

Washington avg48%

632^nd of 1,160

Washington public elementary schools ?

Bottom 46%▲ up 4 pts since 2015

From bottom 42% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Washington Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 18Elementary Schools in the Bethel School District

138^th of 247Bethel School District among Washington districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	43.5	632 of 1160	45.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	36.6	727 of 1168	37.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.2	645 of 1169	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.7	533 of 1169	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	41.0	612 of 1107	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	59.4	456 of 1130	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.7	565 of 1054	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2017	44.3	603 of 1056	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	38.4	682 of 1053	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2015	43.2	623 of 1067	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2013	46.9	640 of 1106	42.1%	★★☆☆☆
2012	64.6	390 of 1097	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2011	48.4	588 of 1092	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	45.7	616 of 1088	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2009	52.4	517 of 1072	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	54.5	512 of 1067	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2007	47.9	579 of 1069	45.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	52.3	512 of 1051	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2005	45.6	592 of 1031	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2004	44.3	588 of 1026	42.7%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	36.8	690 of 1092	36.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	35.7	700 of 1093	36.0%	★★☆☆☆
2023	36.8	685 of 1094	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	46.3	563 of 1100	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	40.7	566 of 1008	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.5	378 of 1068	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.3	478 of 1004	52.4%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	38.9	411 of 659	37.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.8	295 of 651	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	83.5	58 of 633	90.8%	★★★★★
2022	62.6	188 of 694	72.9%	★★★★☆
2021	70.5	80 of 501	84.0%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	54.7	427 of 1013	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.1	410 of 1024	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.1	520 of 1013	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.8	330 of 1019	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.2	374 of 854	56.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	67.5	243 of 979	75.2%	★★★★☆
2018	53.8	378 of 835	54.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	50.2	524 of 1098	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	39.0	668 of 1099	39.2%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.1	514 of 1099	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.4	456 of 1113	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	36.1	626 of 1025	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.4	453 of 1075	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.3	573 of 999	42.6%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Washington percentile	Rating
2025	32.6	709 of 1007	29.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	26.8	783 of 1009	22.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	25.7	819 of 1011	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	49.1	519 of 1031	49.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.0	717 of 943	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	54.3	480 of 1027	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	32.8	598 of 833	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)58th percentile+12 vs school

Male (2025)52nd percentile+7 vs school

Hispanic (2025)38th percentile-8 vs school

Female (2025)37th percentile-9 vs school

White (2025)30th percentile-16 vs school

By subject vs Washington (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts49%-4 vs state

Math43%~ state avg

Science42%-7 vs state

1.0

1 rating · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, September 12, 2019

They need new office staff. They are very rude Close Quote

Schools Near Kapowsin Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Immunizations Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				WCAS Science (2025)		SBAC English Language Arts (2025)					SBAC Math (2025)					% Completely Immunized (2024)	% Polio (2024)	% Measles (2024)	% Mumps (2024)	% Rubella (2024)	% Diphtheria (2024)	% Hepatitis B (2024)	% Varicella (2024)	% Pertussis (2024)	% Tetanus (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	WCAS Science 5th Grade	WCAS Science All Grades	SBAC English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 4th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 5th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts 6th Grade	SBAC English Language Arts All Grades	SBAC Math 3rd Grade	SBAC Math 4th Grade	SBAC Math 5th Grade	SBAC Math 6th Grade	SBAC Math All Grades	% Completely Immunized KG	% Polio KG	% Measles KG	% Mumps KG	% Rubella KG	% Diphtheria KG	% Hepatitis B KG	% Varicella KG	% Pertussis KG	% Tetanus KG	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Kapowsin Elementary	Public	K-5	10412 264th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-8600	321	20	15.9	47.7%	204 (63.6%)	3 (0.9%)	60 (18.7%)	6 (1.9%)	2 (0.6%)	5 (1.6%)	41 (12.8%)	43.5	632^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	45.5%		36.6	727^th of 1168 public elementary schools	37.8%	95	42.4	42.4	57.8	52.1	40.0		49.4	53.3	46.5	30.5		42.9	84.8	87.0	84.8	84.8	84.8	87.0	89.1	84.8	87.0	87.0	$20,103	$767	$19,337
Rocky Ridge Elementary	Public	K-5	6514 260th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-5000	430	28	15.3	60.9%	232 (54.0%)	13 (3.0%)	90 (20.9%)	2 (0.5%)	5 (1.2%)	14 (3.3%)	74 (17.2%)	50	557^th of 1160 public elementary schools	52.0%		41.1	665^th of 1168 public elementary schools	43.1%	108	46.2	46.2	48.6	61.0	46.9		52.6	63.9	57.1	18.5		47.7	89.9	89.9	92.4	92.4	92.4	89.9	94.9	89.9	89.9	89.9	$19,718	$1,480	$18,237
Nelson Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	22109 108th Ave E	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-6400	497	33	14.9	46.9%	288 (57.9%)	21 (4.2%)	71 (14.3%)	16 (3.2%)	4 (0.8%)	10 (2.0%)	87 (17.5%)	77	243^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	79.1%		63.5	401^st of 1168 public elementary schools	65.7%	158	68.7	68.7	59.7	53.9	74.7		63.6	66.7	58.5	65.1		63.6	80.2	82.8	83.6	83.6	83.6	81.0	86.2	81.9	81.0	81.0	$15,831	$754	$15,077
North Star Elementary	Public	K-5	7719 224th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-8800	446	31	14.5	52.0%	251 (56.3%)	10 (2.2%)	79 (17.7%)	10 (2.2%)	3 (0.7%)	20 (4.5%)	72 (16.1%)	57	470^th of 1160 public elementary schools	59.5%		60.9	435^th of 1168 public elementary schools	62.8%	35	54.6	54.6	51.7	59.2	50.0		53.3	62.8	56.3	35.2		51.0	86.3	89.0	89.0	89.0	89.0	89.0	91.8	86.3	89.0	89.0	$18,421	$996	$17,425
Centennial Elementary	Public	K-5	24353 Mathias Rd E	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-7700	540	36	14.9	67.0%	263 (48.7%)	19 (3.5%)	128 (23.7%)	4 (0.7%)	7 (1.3%)	26 (4.8%)	93 (17.2%)	46.4	599^th of 1160 public elementary schools	48.4%		51.5	539^th of 1168 public elementary schools	53.9%	60	50.5	50.5	56.3	43.1	54.1		51.8	46.0	42.3	41.2		43.1	80.4	86.6	83.9	83.9	83.9	83.9	89.3	83.9	83.9	83.9	$18,744	$1,370	$17,374
Graham Elementary	Public	K-5	10026 204th Street East	Graham	98338	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	No	(253) 800-8500	428	28	15.2	52.1%	211 (49.3%)	22 (5.1%)	72 (16.8%)	16 (3.7%)	8 (1.9%)	21 (4.9%)	78 (18.2%)	63.4	392^nd of 1160 public elementary schools	66.2%		61.4	427^th of 1168 public elementary schools	63.4%	35	48.0	48.0	73.6	50.6	53.3		58.8	69.4	49.4	54.7		57.5	89.7	95.4	94.3	94.3	94.3	93.1	94.3	93.1	93.1	93.1	$17,064	$998	$16,066
Pioneer Valley Elementary	Public	K-5	7315 Eustis Hunt Road	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-8900	524	34	15.5	56.5%	213 (40.6%)	39 (7.4%)	120 (22.9%)	15 (2.9%)	2 (0.4%)	44 (8.4%)	91 (17.4%)	70	312^th of 1160 public elementary schools	73.1%		63.5	400^th of 1168 public elementary schools	65.8%	88	54.4	54.4	68.2	52.9	64.1		61.8	63.6	60.9	53.3		59.2	92.0	94.3	94.3	94.3	94.3	93.1	97.7	92.0	93.1	93.1	$18,584	$1,190	$17,394
Expedition Elementary	Public	K-5	18717 108th Ave Ct E	Puyallup	98374	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(253) 800-2400	530	31	16.9	51.3%	117 (22.1%)	114 (21.5%)	86 (16.2%)	81 (15.3%)	4 (0.8%)	39 (7.4%)	88 (16.6%)								(n/a)
Shining Mountain Elementary	Public	K-5	21615 38th Ave E	Spanaway	98387	Pierce County	Bethel School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 800-5200	613	38	16.2	65.7%	173 (28.2%)	65 (10.6%)	155 (25.3%)	28 (4.6%)	2 (0.3%)	72 (11.7%)	118 (19.2%)	27.4	863^rd of 1160 public elementary schools	25.6%		34.6	761^st of 1168 public elementary schools	34.8%	102	43.8	43.8	29.7	45.3	46.1		39.8	35.6	37.6	25.8		33.6	90.0	94.0	95.0	95.0	95.0	91.0	96.0	94.0	91.0	91.0	$18,655	$1,501	$17,154
Emma L Carson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	8615 184th St E	Puyallup	98375	Pierce County	Puyallup School District	No	No	No	Yes	(253) 840-8808	676	40	17.0	52.8%	232 (34.3%)	105 (15.5%)	128 (18.9%)	57 (8.4%)	3 (0.4%)	38 (5.6%)	113 (16.7%)	56.6	476^th of 1160 public elementary schools	59.0%		50.8	553^rd of 1168 public elementary schools	52.7%	77	42.3	42.3	44.4	51.7	56.7	63.3	53.9	45.4	52.9	54.8	52.0	51.1	93.1	96.0	96.0	96.0	96.0	94.1	96.0	96.0	94.1	94.1	$16,171	$471	$15,700

Frequently Asked Questions about Kapowsin Elementary

What schools do graduates of Kapowsin Elementary attend?

Students who attend Kapowsin Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Frontier Middle School
High : Graham Kapowsin High School

What is the racial makeup of Kapowsin Elementary?

Students at Kapowsin Elementary are 64% White, 19% Hispanic, 13% Two or more races, 2% Asian, 2% Pacific Islander.

What district is Kapowsin Elementary in?

Bethel School District

How many students attend Kapowsin Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 321 students attended Kapowsin Elementary.

Is Kapowsin Elementary a good school?

Kapowsin Elementary ranks 632^nd of 1160 Washington elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Rate Kapowsin Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau, the Washington State Department of Health and the Washington Office of Superindentent of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.